Did I just hang out the window looking down the street checking on noises, who is walking by, cars that drive by? I am not only hanging out, shutters wide open, head craned out looking up and down my Via, YES, MY via, Via San Michele! My street, my noises, my right…obligation…to crane out the window and check.
Now I am just peacefully enjoying the breeze, the pigeons who also share my morning pastime, as they perch along any window sill, iron adornment, or extended ledge for a brief pause in their otherwise frenetic existence.
So here I am, hanging out the window, Italian Style. The perch is as follows:
– First, throw open wooden shutters. This announces your arrival onto the stage of window gazing.
– Second, open the window. Wide-open.
– Third, get a kitchen towel, lay it securely on the outside window ledge. (this step is purely for professionals)
– Fourth, get into position: bend at the waist, butt extended into the kitchen, legs apart, feet secure (in case of something extremely interesting up the street, tiptoes may be required, however for normal gazing, the flat foot approach will allow you to last longer at your post) Back flat, neck extended to allow for ease of turning up and down the street. This, I think, is Italian Yoga. Instead of “Downward Dog”, I have discovered “Outward Window”.
Todays’ view: First the old lady across from me, a rather large woman, has a very big dog, and is simply walking with her wallet in hand. Likely a quick walk to the fruit market in the piazza. She sees an old man with a cane, he and she march toward each other, a small smile, nod of the head, Buongiorno. Buongiorno. The lady looks up and notices me. There is no greeting out the window. I don’t think that is part of window protocol here. So, I just smile.
Today is garbage pick-up day. Well, let me clarify. The refuse program in Italy is complicated. It almost requires an engineering degree just to follow the protocol. Tuesday, “plastica.” A list with pictures of what is “plastica” and what isn’t (depicted as items crossed with a big X) is stamped on the large blue plastic trash bags which must be requested and picked up from the commune (think City Hall). These and only these are to be used as directed. And must be placed, tied with the special plastic twine accompanying the bags, before midnight on Monday, so that on Tuesday morning the municipal white trucks with their workers (men and women) in bright orange with one bold cream-colored stripe across the legs will come by, singing, whistling, and throwing the neatly aligned blue bundles into the back of the truck.
Yes, even the garbage workers are provided snazzy outfits here in the land of Prada, Gucci, Pucci, and Fendi. Public workers of every type, rank, and purpose are provided with the most amazing and stylish outfits. Color-coordinated, stylishly cut, every man (and woman) in uniform creates a catwalk opportunity, even if collecting trash. As for the other trash requirements, Wednesday is “Organica”. All foodstuffs such as vegetables, meat, fruit rinds, coffee grounds, uneaten bread, etc. (think composted material) go into another special bag, made of heavy pulplike material. Also with pictures (helpful for me, with limited language skills, but undoubtedly to make expectations very clear. This goes into a special communal garbage bin, for which each resident has been given a special plastic key. Also, must be placed by midnight on Tuesday for Wednesday’s pick up. Thursday is Paper pick up, with the protocol requiring all paper trash in a Giant paper sack, picture coded to show paper items allowed. This goes into another communal bin (key required) on midnight Wednesday for the orange-suited guys to take on Thursday morning.
Glass bottles require another disposal in a special keyed bin. Bottles are available to dispose of any day, it seems. (And that’s a good thing, because, wine bottles!). Then there is “Differenzia”, which is meant to include everything else that isn’t pictured on the other bags. So far, I have decided it includes things like styrofoam, corks, wire, and maybe aluminum foil, but I am not certain. I live in fear that someone will discover that I have inadvertently committed a Refuse Crime!
It’s only Tuesday, and I am just working on plastic. I think I got it right. So far.